Stuck in the Airport

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Like many frequent travelers, your Nomad-in-Chief has been stranded for long periods of time in many airports around the world.  Weather, mechanical problems, the list goes on and on. The first challenge, of course, is getting a straight answer to how long the delay will be. Particularly annoying was a practice I encountered while trying to get from Atlanta to Boston on Delta: we were directed to a bank of phones which made me feel that the airline was afraid to deal with us face-to-face. I’m sure the reasoning was that their call center could rebook us faster than three or four agents could in person but I was on hold for almost as long as I would have been in queue. The call center was prepared for the influx either.

My first response when a delay looks lengthy enough to stretch overnight: book a hotel room. The airline may or may not provide a room and I’d rather have the comfort of certainty that relying on their largesse. If your expense account won’t support another night at the hotel, you’ll want to check out Sleeping In Airports.

On shorter delays, diversions can generally be had though among my first steps is to get food — you don’t want to be stuck later on.  I found a lovely day spa at JFK in New York while in the midst of a circuitous route between Boston and London. I’ve also slipped in for a road rub in Denver and you can find a range of airport spas here.

The good people at Travel & Leisure have documented some of the most unusual airport attractions (from free Sony PlayStation kiosks — Paris — to Asia’s largest 4D projection facility — Hong Kong — and dentists — Sao Paolo) which can provide an alternative from shopping, drinking, and rereading the day’s paper. We’ve also heard reports about free foot massages at the Singapore airport (could be worth the delay!) and free trips to mini-visits to town for passengers in transit. Stuck at Dulles? The Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum extension, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, is a short (and cheap) bus ride away.

What are your favorite tips, hidden gems, and engaging diversions while in between flights or otherwise stuck at the airport?